BASIS to Deal?

[Anonymous]

I am not a regular reader here but I thought I would look for views on a topic and seeing none, I will ask.

I am thinking of moving my 6th grader from BASIS to Deal. Yes we are in-boundary. I know everyone loves Deal and raves about it but I have some questions for both current and former BASIS and Deal parents.

--Has any one done this move at 6th or 7th grade and what are the advantages or disadvantages of moving before or after comp exams at BASIS?
--What has happened to the kids at BASIS that don't pass a comp? We heard earlier this year in a meeting that the school gives no support or materials for retaking a comp and very few who retake do pass. Do those kids repeat a year even if they go to a new school?
--Is it worth it (in terms of stress, overall development) to hang through 7th or 8th grade at BASIS for the completion of the biology, physics and chemistry series (assume the kid likes science)?
--How have kids transitioning from BASIS to Deal handled the switch from memorization based multiple choice testing to what I hear is more critical thinking in the IB program at Deal?
--Is testing at Deal mostly multiple choice to handle the volume of kids?
--How are the support services for kids that are not good at juggling lots of papers, assignments, details but can get the work done?
--How are services for those with learning challenges who need simple accomodations like time, organizational help, workload management etc.
--How is Deal at developing writing skills?
_- How do parents find the school to respond to their request for information, access to teachers, getting questions answered, getting attention of a teacher when there is an ongoing performance issue or skills development need?
-- How does the homework volume compare between BASIS and Deal? (I was suprised to hear a Deal grad now at Banneker say he hardly had any homework at Deal. Banneker sounds like BASIS in terms of workload so I was surpised this child thought there was a big difference coming from Deal.)

Thank you all for sharing your information and ideas.

[Anonymous]

OP - not sure that very many people have made the switch you are considering bc most who have Deal as an option go there or are firmly in the private school camp.

You clearly know what isn't working for your child at Basis. Suggest starting a new thread here or on the Special Needs board re supports at Deal to hear from parents who have experienced with SPED there.

My kid is in 8th at Basis. Her best friend from elementary is at Deal and has a fraction of the homework mine has (they are IB and we are not). Also takes fewer total classes.

Good luck with your decision.

[Anonymous]

Ask the Exceptional Student Advocacy Director at BASIS-she can send you to at least one parrent I know of who has done the switch with a kid with an IEP this year. I am sure there are others she knows about as well. She also is very wise and can give you solid info and advice.

[Anonymous]

I have a 7th grader at Deal and can answer a couple of your questions based on her experience. Testing is not multiple choice. Despite the large number of kids at the school, the way kids are broken down into teams makes the school seem much smaller so that kids and parents can get to know the students and teachers on their team; teachers are great about communicating and have been available and responsive to emails. Students take 6 classes per day, and homework varies from 10 minutes to 2 hours per night, but most nights it's about 30 minutes of homework. That's my experience, FWIW. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


I have a 7th grader at Deal and can answer a couple of your questions based on her experience. Testing is not multiple choice. Despite the large number of kids at the school, the way kids are broken down into teams makes the school seem much smaller so that kids and parents can get to know the students and teachers on their team; teachers are great about communicating and have been available and responsive to emails. Students take 6 classes per day, and homework varies from 10 minutes to 2 hours per night, but most nights it's about 30 minutes of homework. That's my experience, FWIW. Good luck!

+1

[Anonymous]

I have had children at both schools - although no one who has switched schools - and my observation is that the teaching quality was considerably higher at Deal and that the sense of "investedness" in students' success was also higher. I can't speak to your other questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had children at both schools - although no one who has switched schools - and my observation is that the teaching quality was considerably higher at Deal and that the sense of "investedness" in students' success was also higher. I can't speak to your other questions.

I'm deciding between Basis and Hardy right now and wonder if others had this same sense of the comparison between Basis and Deal. Was my impression that the teachers at Basis were pretty good? Am worried about the 2 hours a night of homework at Basis but also worry about my child not getting enough academic challenge at Hardy.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP with kids at both. I do think the teachers at BASIS are pretty good - better in terms of subject knowledge, but less good in terms of classroom management. Also, we've had a fair amount of turnover, with math, science, and English teachers all changing after the start of the year. With a couple of rare exceptions, however, the teachers at Deal were excellent - and had both subject-matter and pedagogical expertise. Just our experience.

[Anonymous]

6th grade Basis parent here-I find the teachers at BASIS to be excellent. We have on out of 8 that is not a good teacher for my kid in particular and some other friends whose kids have him, but that does not mean he is not a good teacher. There are things to not like about Basis, but the quality and dedication of teachers is not one of them in general. The turnover of teachers, while to be expected with a new administration and school and at charters in general, is high IMHO. Additionally, there are teachers at Basis this year that were at Deal and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had children at both schools - although no one who has switched schools - and my observation is that the teaching quality was considerably higher at Deal and that the sense of "investedness" in students' success was also higher. I can't speak to your other questions.

I'm deciding between Basis and Hardy right now and wonder if others had this same sense of the comparison between Basis and Deal. Was my impression that the teachers at Basis were pretty good? Am worried about the 2 hours a night of homework at Basis but also worry about my child not getting enough academic challenge at Hardy.

I don't have experience with Basis, Hardy, or Deal, but do have one child at a very good local private school, and 2 hours of homework a night is about average at our school for 7th and 8th grade (there was less in 6th), so I'm not sure that Basis is that far from the norm. I'm interested in the 2 PPs' report of an average of 30 min/night at Deal--seems really low for this area, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but is surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask the Exceptional Student Advocacy Director at BASIS-she can send you to at least one parrent I know of who has done the switch with a kid with an IEP this year. I am sure there are others she knows about as well. She also is very wise and can give you solid info and advice.[/quot

Exceptional Student Advocacy Director? Is that really someone's title? wtf?

Also, "teachers" at Basis may have may have degrees in their subject area but are not trained or credentialed teachers. Teaching is an actual profession, not something to be improvised. My guess is that the young basis staff may realize that they are in over their heads and leave. Teaching middle school requires quite a professional set of specialized skills. Just ask the certified teachers at deal or hardy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the Exceptional Student Advocacy Director at BASIS-she can send you to at least one parrent I know of who has done the switch with a kid with an IEP this year. I am sure there are others she knows about as well. She also is very wise and can give you solid info and advice.[/quot

Exceptional Student Advocacy Director? Is that really someone's title? wtf?

Also, "teachers" at Basis may have may have degrees in their subject area but are not trained or credentialed teachers. Teaching is an actual profession, not something to be improvised. My guess is that the young basis staff may realize that they are in over their heads and leave. Teaching middle school requires quite a professional set of specialized skills. Just ask the certified teachers at deal or hardy.

Can't let the WTF dig pass although we are veering far from OP's thoughtful questions.

"Exceptional Student" is a new-ish term for special ed. Used more in other parts of the country than in DC. Idea is to get past negative stereotypes associated with special ed and also capture the full range of kids including those who are "2e" (gifted with learning differences).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had children at both schools - although no one who has switched schools - and my observation is that the teaching quality was considerably higher at Deal and that the sense of "investedness" in students' success was also higher. I can't speak to your other questions.

I'm deciding between Basis and Hardy right now and wonder if others had this same sense of the comparison between Basis and Deal. Was my impression that the teachers at Basis were pretty good? Am worried about the 2 hours a night of homework at Basis but also worry about my child not getting enough academic challenge at Hardy.

I don't have experience with Basis, Hardy, or Deal, but do have one child at a very good local private school, and 2 hours of homework a night is about average at our school for 7th and 8th grade (there was less in 6th), so I'm not sure that Basis is that far from the norm. I'm interested in the 2 PPs' report of an average of 30 min/night at Deal--seems really low for this area, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but is surprising.

Could the common factor here be that parents are expected to actively help teach their children? Is it possible that Deal - being a public school - places a stronger emphasis on effective teaching happening right there, in the classroom?

If so, that can be a decision factor. Some may enjoy that co-schooling role. Some - myself included - prefer to spend time with their children doing other things, including sports, scouts, outings, vacations, playing board games, visiting family. I would be fundamentally unhappy - and make my children unhappy - to to help my child with 2 hours of homework every night and am relieved to know my school is going a very good job at teaching. This is a personal preference, not a value proposition.

[Anonymous]

BASIS math homework is practice…not something parents should teach. 30 problems a night is part of their approach to ensuring fluency in math.

[Anonymous]

I have a 6th grader at Deal. DC has a decent amount of homework, but generally finishes the vast majority of it before leaving school (in the library or on team tutoring day). DC seems to have a good grasp of the material and really only asks me for help when they definitely don't understand something or with a major project. The homework was heavier at the beginning of the school year, but always seemed to be an appropriate amount. The work is by no means easy (I do review what they are doing often), but they have a good handle on it. Both DC's elementary school and the staff at Deal during the first month of the SY prepared them well in regard to managing time and seeking out help when needed. Of course, this is my experience with my child. I don't have any experience with BASIS, but I do have a friend who chose BASIS over Deal. She seems happy with it. I should note however, that she has a pretty studious kid. My DC on the other hand makes the principal's honor roll but still LOVES to socialize with friends from elementary school and the new ones that have been added since starting middle. Deal is just a better fit. I'm very happy with the school. The administration is beyond excellent (not an exaggeration).